Turbine.



c. B. GULVBR & J. A. HEGKARD.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001212, 1908.

909,369. Patented Jim. 12, 1909.

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&. BMW 7 G. B. OULVER & J. A. HEGKARD.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.12, 1908.

Patentd Jan. 12,1909.

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G. B. GULVER & J. A. HEOKARD.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED MT. 12, 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

W1 TNESSES $44 25 By yl w d. l 9 v V?- Atiorizcy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cn'ARLEs B. cULvER AND JOSEPH A. HEQKARD, or SEASIDE, onneon.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed mm 12, 1908. Serial No. 457,418.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that we, CHARLES B. CULVER and JOSEPH A. HEOKARD, residing at Seaside, inthe county of Clatsop and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine-Engines; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to impact turbine engines which are provided with steam jets; and it consists in t e novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of the engine showing a portion of the casing in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the engine, taken on the line x-a: in Fig. 1, and drawn to a larger scale. Fig.3 is a detail view of a portion of one of the plates, showing a portion of the steam-chest in section. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail plan views, partly in section, of certain of the blades, showing them arranged for forward and for rearward motion respectively. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the steam-chest, taken on the line yy in Fig. 3.

A is the cylindrical casing of the engine, provided with end-plates B having steam channels or passages b. The casing is provided with an annular partitionplate C secured to its periphery and arranged parallel to the end-plates B. This partitionplate 0 isprovided with a steam-chamber or passage 0. Only one partition plate is shown, but as many of them as desired may be used, and this partition-plate divides the easing into two cylinders D and E.

The steam to drive the engine is admitted throu h a main steam-piped provided with branc -pi es (1 which are connected to the passages and c, and are provided with reguiating valves of any approved construction. After having expanded and done its work in the cylinders D and E, the steam is let out through the exhaust-pipe e. The partitionplate C has holes 2 near its periphery to permit the exhaust steam of one cylinder to mix with the exhaust steam of the other cylinder and pass out by the exhaust-pipe.

F and G are two rotors secured side by side upon a. driving-shaft H, and arranged to work in the cylinders: D and E respectively...

The shaft H passes centrally through the casing and is journaled in bearings h of approved construction. These bearings are rovided with adjusting-devices or screws I l and are preferably of the'kind known as thrust-bearings, so that the shaft H may have no endwise movement. The hubs of Patented Jan. 12, 1909. 1

Each endplate and par'titbn-plate'has a similar steam-chest I, and the description is therefore confined to one of them. The steam-chest I is an annular chamber ar ranged near the hub of the rotor, and con nected to the steam-passage pertaining to it by a-port or ports 13. The outer wall of the steam-chest consists of a ring of curved nozzles formed of blades J having flanges j which are secured to the plate.

K is a valve consisting of a ring provided with a series of holes k. This ring-valve is mounted in the steam-chest under the nozzles so that the amount of steam passing through the nozzles can be regulated or cut ofi by oscillating the said Valve circumferentially. This valve is o erated by means of. a rod L which passes t rough a stufling-box on one of the steam-pipes and which is connected to a short connecting-bar or rod is. The bar It is secured to a lug on the valve, and it projects through the steam-port into the steamchest. The rod L can be operated by hand, or it can be operated automatically by any approved form of speed-governor. The

steam-pipes are arranged a little above the centers of the cylinders so that the rods L work horizontally.

Each plate is provided with a series of station'ary blades m, and each rotor is provided with a series of power blades n. The blades m have beveled flanges m at their bases, and the blades n have beveled flanges n. Rings 10 are provided for securing the flanges m and j to the plates, and similar rings p are provided for securing the fiangesn' to the rotors. These rings have beveled surfaces to fit the beveled ends of the flanges, and

they are secured to the plates and rotors bysubstantially between the flanks 8 and the faces 9 of the stationary blades m, and these passages 7 converge gradually from their inlets to thelr outlets.

p All the blades are of the same length, but those near the shaft are smaller than those remote from. it. The blades increase in breadth, thickness and area of cross-section,

in a regular proportion, asthey increase in distance from the shaft, each circle of blades having the same number of blades in it. The I passages between the blades increase in area in a similar manner, being smallest near the shaft. 1

The eculiar shape of the stationary blades 'm, an their arrangement in concentric circles, enables the said blades to deflect the steam to the most eifective angle, and cause it to impinge against the troughs in the flanks gives the engine This eat efliciency, and enables it to start under eavy loads. The steam is permitted to expand in passing from the passages 4 into the next series of passages 7 so that there is but little back pressure. The steam is expanded ste by step as it passes through the rings of bl tdes from the nozzles of the steam-chest to the exhaust space at the periphery of each cylinder, so that it is used in an economical and efficient manner.

In the engine shown in Fig. 2, the casing is divided into four sections I, II, III, and IIII. Each section has similar rings of stationary blades m, and intercurrent rings of power blades 7?. working between them. Each of the said sections has its own steam-chest and admission-valve K, and each section is capable of being 0 erated independent of the others. As tur ine engines of this type are most economical when working under full steam pressure, this arrangement is very ad vantageous. The end thrusts of the two end sections I and IIII are balanced, and also the end thrusts of the two middle sections. When the load is materially decreased, one pair of sections is cut out automatically, or

of the next series of power blades.

y hand, by means of the'valves K, so that the remaining pair of sections operates under full steam pressure. Slight variations of load are met by partially closing one or more of the valves K.

When the engine is used as a non-reversing engine, all the blades are arranged in the same direction, and so that there is no material end thrust on the shaft. When the engine is required for use as a reversing engine, one pair of sections I and IIII can have blades arranged in one direction as shown in Fig. 4, and the other pair can have its blades arranged in the reverse direction as shown in Fig. 5. With this form of engine there is also no material end thrust. When the engine is used as a marine engine to drive a propeller, the blades in sections II and IIII can be arranged in the same direction to balance the thrust of the propeller when going ahead; and the blades in sections I and III can be arranged in the reverse direction to balance the pull of the propeller when going astern.

If greater power is desired for driving the propeller-ahead, additional steam cylinder sections and rotors can be provided accordingly.

What we claim is:

1. In aturbine engine, the combination, with a flat supporting plate, of blades provided with base flanges, flat rings engaging with the said flanges, and fastening devices which secure the said rings against the flat side surface of the said plate and thereby clam the said blades in position.

2. n a turbine engine, the combination, withalflat supporting plate, of blades provided with base flanges having beveled portions, flat rings having beveled surfaces which engage with thebeveled portions of the said flanges, and fastening devices which.

secure the said rings against the flat side sur face of the said plate and thereby clamp the said blades in position.

1 3. In a turbine engine, the combination,

-with a rotor provided with a series of laterally-projecting blades arranged in a ring and forming a series of steam passages which are narrowest at their middle parts, each of the said blades having converging side portions,

a trough in its flank an'da rounded face; of a stationary plate-provided with a series of laterally-projecting blades arranged in a ring inside the ring of rotor blades and forming a series of converging passages for 'delivering jets of steam to the troughs of the rotor blades. H

4. In a turbine engine, the combination, with a rotor provided with a series of laterally-proj ectingblades arranged in a ring and formin a series of steam passages, each of thesai blades having a side portion inclined with reference to its path of rotation and having a trough in its flank; of a stationary plate provided with a series of laterallyprojecting blades arranged in a ring'inside the ring of rotor blades and provided with extensions inclined in a similar manner to the ad acent side portions of the rotor blades,

ceases and forming a series of converging passages for delivering jets of steam to the rotor blades.

5. In a turbineengine, the combination, with a rotor provided with a series of laterally-projecting blades arranged in a ring and forming a series of steam passages, each of the said blades having a side portion in clined with reference to its path of rotation and havingia. trough in its flank; of a sta tionary plate provided with a series of laterally-projecting blades arranged in a ring inside the ring of rotor blades and provided with extensions inclined in a similar manner to the adjacent side portions of therotor blades and forming a series ofeurved converging passages, each stationary blade being substantially sickleshaped in cross-section and having a straight and pointed extension.

6. In a turbine engine, the combination, with-a rotor provided with laterally-projecting blades having troughs in their flanks and arranged in concentric rings, of a stationary plate provided with blades also arranged in rings and projecting laterally between the aforesaid rings and forming curved and 0011- verging steam et passages, all the said blades being of the same length and increasing in width and breadth in proportion to their distance from the center of rotation.

7. In a turbine engine, the combination, with a cylinder provided with a plate having a series of laterally-projecting blades, and having also an annular and stationary steamchest arranged near its center andprovided with a series of steam-jet nozzles at its periphery, of a rotor provided with a series of blades which project between the cylinder blades, a ring-valve provided with steampassages and mounted inside the said steamchest, and means for oscillating the said valve to regulate the fiow of steam through the said nozzles.

8. In a turbine engine, the combination, with a cylinder provided with a plate having a series of laterally-projecting blades, and havin'g also a steam-passage and an annular steam-chest, said steam-chest being arranged around the center of the cylinder and provided with aseries of steam-jet nozzles, of a rotor provided with a series of blades which project between the cylinder blades, a ringvalve provided with steam-passages and mounted inside the said steam-chest, a steam supply-pipe connectedwith the said steampassage and steam-chest, and rods for oscillating the said ring-valve arranged in the said steam-passage and steam supply-pipe.

9. In a turbine engine, the combination,

with a casing having a plurality of cylinder sections arranged side by side and provided with laterally projectin'g blades arranged in rings, of a driving-shaft journaled at the axis of the said casing, a plurality of rotors secured on the said shaft and arranged in the said cylinder sections and provided with blades which run between the cylinder blades, annular steam-chests provided with nozzles and arranged in each of the said cylinder sections around the said shaft, anda separate valve for each steam-chest which regulates the passage of steam through its nozzles into the cylinder section pertaining to it.

10. In a turbine engine, the combination, with a casing provided with an annular partition-plate secured to its'periphery and provided with an exhaust-passage, said plate and easing being provided with laterally-projecting blades arranged in rings, of a driving-shaft journaled at the axis of the said casing, rotors secured on the said shaft and arranged in the casing and provided with blades which run between the aforesaid blades, annular steamchests provided with nozzles and arranged one in each section of the said casing, and a separate valve for each steam-chest which regulates-the passage of steam through its nozzles into the section of. the cylinder pertaining to it.

11. In a turbine'engine, the combination, with a casing having a plurality of sections arranged side by side and provided with laterally projecting blades, of a driving shaft journaled at the axis of the said casing, a plurality of rotors all secured to the said shaft and arran ed in the said sections and provided with Iaterally projecting blades, and a separate valve for admitting steam of prearranged pressure to each of the said sections, whereby the number of sections in operation may be varied according ta the power required without changing the pressure.

12. In a turbine engine, the combination, with a casing having a plurality of sections arranged side by side and provided with laterally rojecting blades, of a driving shaft j'ourna ed at the axis of the said casing, a lurality of rotors all secured to the said s aft and arranged in the said sections and providedwith laterally projecting blades, certain of the said sections and rotors havin their blades arranged for forward motion and the remainder having their blades arranged for rearward motion, and a plurality of steam admission valves connected to the said sections and operated independently so that the engine can be driven forward or backward.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. CULVER. JOSEPH A. HECKARD.

Witnesses:

CHARLES N. JoHNs'roN, B. W. OITQ. 

